Sponsored links

2009-10-29

Piazza Duomo, Florence, is for pedestrians only!

Last Sunday Florence had a very special change in its viability, a sort of revolution: the very central cathedral square, piazza Duomo for the Florentines, has become for pedestrians only. It means that all the buses, tracks, cars, motor scooters are not allowed to enter the area, and obliged to change their routes.

Thanks to the perseverance of its young major, the square has been given back to Florence citizens and tourists.

This revolution took place on October 25th and even if a lot of people had their say about that, many others understood the importance of closing the traffic in Piazza Duomo and enjoy the silence of the square, admiring the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Giotto tower.

This day was welcomed by concerts, historical parades and many events and even though a lot of buses had to change their routes, it's been a good thing for Florence and its citizens.

Come to see Piazza Duomo and enjoy its new magnificence!

2009-10-26

Chef in Tuscany

Lately there's a bit fashion to pay someone to come and cook at home: in short, a chef to prepare dinner for a special event. Knows something the good Arturo Dori who left the Black Cabbage ("Cavolo nero" restaurant in Florence) in order to dedicate himself to this activity.
How does the chef at home?
The chef takes care of all: does the shopping, food preparation, equipment, imbadisce the table, serve food, cleans everything ( I like especially this! ).
A reader writes to tell me a site where you can book just a cook at home (I did not understand if they work in all of Tuscany but I assume that at least in and around Florence is). I read on the site that they do for tourists who book a Tuscan villas.
Interesting ...

2009-10-21

The New Meyer paediatric hospital in Florence, a champion of respect for the environment

Last thursday I went to visit the New Meyer, the main paediatric hospital in Florence.

The New Meyer is the first bio climatic hospital in Italy. The whole complex has been planned and constructed with a new concept for the environment, capable of matching together the need to save energy and minimizing the impact of polluting the atmosphere. Both in the recuperation of the antique Villa Ognissanti in Florence, Italy, and the realisation of the new building, hidden in the hills that houses the confinements, eco compatible solutions have been adopted, financed by the European projects Revival and hospitals.

The New Meyer responds to a series of parameters: the reduction of emissions of Carbon Dioxide, protection of summer overheating, ventilation and the best air quality, containment of the use of air conditioning, the best use of natural light. To permit the best use of natural light within the areas of confinement, particular systems have been adopted, such as “Pinocchio’s hats” and “solar tubes”.

Systems that direct sunlight from the sky towards the inside, lighting up every room and every area within, including the day room, the play areas and even the consulting rooms.

Another particularity is the bio climatic photovoltaic “green house” hallway, that acts as an entrance way and a greeting area. A structure built from thin sheets of wood and glass, just like rows of trees. An “inside forest” that matches with the surrounding park. The “green house” hallway uses photovoltaic panels that have the double function of producing electric energy (30.5KW) and to filter natural light.

Thanks to these solutions the New Meyer beats 40% of energy consumption and reduces the emission of carbon dioxide by 35%. Light, sun, greenery at the service of the health of children and adolescents.

And on the roof there is a field!
At the New Meyer, greenery is everywhere, on the terraces and on the roof. A decision that the project managers of CSPE Studio in Florence have made in order to protect the building from heat, ice, rain and ultra violet rays. A carpet of cactus plants (Sedum), that during the summer remove heat from the structure up to a maximum of 4°C. The garden terraces cover a total area of 5,000 square metres. At the New Meyer, the greenery is inside and out. The hospital is surrounded by a 72,000 square metre park, rich in trees and plants originating from the Tuscan region.

The New Meyer is a hospital that for the attention paid to the whole project represents a total innovation in the healthcare sector. There is no area, no small detail that has not been thought of for the children and their families, the most important people of the Paediatric hospital.
It's a hospital for kids, but it's also a place where children can feel comfortable, receiving care, affection and respect, together with medicines and cures. Because children may feel ok also in hospital.

2009-10-15

Pitti fashion fair


This is the calendar for Pitti fashion fair 2009 - 2010:
Moda prima 69 in Milan (November, 28th -30th )
Pitti Uomo (men) 77 in Florence (January 2010, 12nd -15th )
Pitti_W (women pre-collection) 5 in Florence (January 2010, 12nd -15th )
Pitti Bimbo (kids) 70 in Florence (January 2010, 21st -23rd )
Pitti Filati 66 in Florence (January 2010, 27th -29th )
Touch neozone cloudnine in Milan (February 2010, 28th - March 2010, 3rd )
Taste 5 in Florence (March 2010, 13rd - 15th)

related posts:
- Pitti uomo fashion fair number 74
- my pictures about Pitti Uomo 73
see also Pitti Immagine Uomo 72
and the post about Pitti UOMO 73

2009-10-14

Florence Indian Film Festival

Starting December 4th, 2009, until the 10th, the 9th edition of the Florence indian film festival will take place at Cinema Odeon, Piazza Strozzi, Florence, Italy.
It's the first festival in the world totally devoted to films from and about India. The first edition of River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival took place in October 2001 in Florence, Italy, as the first festival in the world totally devoted to Indian cinema and films about India, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
More info: http://www.rivertoriver.it/

2009-10-13

Creativity festival in Florence

The Festival of Creativity returns to the Fortezza da Basso in Florence from October 15-18, 2009 and dedicates its 4th edition to the city, where creativity becomes innovation, production and development. After the increasing successes of the first three editions (with 400,000 visitors in 2008), the Festival is taking on an international profile as a premier event of the 2009 European Year of Creativity and Innovation. The 2009 programme offers four days of meetings, talkshows, workshops and live performances with artists, scholars and scientists from around the world—a rich schedule which allows each visitor to create their own ideal route through the event, whatever their age or interest.

Link sponsorizzati